Discus Awards

Ronne Turner is the Associate Vice President of Enrollment & Dean of Admissions and Marketing at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.  She also authors the blog Northeastern Admissions: An Inside Look. 

Congratulations on making it through the first half of the junior year! Hopefully you had a successful semester with your activities, athletics and in your classes. As you probably know, your performance in your junior year courses is critically important in the college admission process. College admissions committees focus on these grades as it is the last full year we are going to see when making a decision on your application. Even though the committee will see your first term or even your mid-year senior grades, these grades only reflect a short period of time. It is important that you continue to do your best!

In the meantime, you may have already begun to hear from colleges about their programs and inviting you to visit their campuses. You may even have heard from Northeastern University already! How did we get your contact information? You gave it to us. When you registered to take standardized testing like the PSAT, you indicated you would be willing to receive information from colleges.

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Filed under: Dean Turner • College Prep • College Admissions

Maria Pascucci is a national student leadership speaker, author and the CEO of Campus Calm™. If you’re tired of stressing over school, you can join the club … literally! Unite with students around the world at www.campuscalm.com and receive your free Student Leader Success & Happiness Kit. Learn more about Maria on her About the Author page.

It's that time of year when college-bound high school students start preparing to take that much-anticipated, and sometimes feared, SAT I. Maybe your parents hired you a tutor or perhaps you're enrolled in an SAT prep course. Or maybe your family can't afford test prep help so you're studying solo. You're probably aiming for a good score so you can get accepted into the college of your choice; some of you Ivy League hopefuls may be shooting for a near-perfect score to beat out the stiff competition. That one test can equal a whole lot of pressure. Before you work yourself up into a full-fledged anxiety attack at the mere mention of the word "SAT" or “ACT”, consider this:

The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) lists over 830 four-year colleges in the United States that do not use the SAT I or ACT to admit substantial numbers of bachelor degree applicants. That's right, over 830 colleges! Many of these schools are fantastic schools, colleges where you can earn a great education. Click here for more information. Look no further than the Discus Awards to see how society is beginning to shift the focus from grades and test scores to the whole you.

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Filed under: Maria Pascucci • Campus Calm • College Prep • Outside the Classroom • College Admissions

Maria Pascucci is a national student leadership speaker, author and the CEO of Campus Calm™. If you’re tired of stressing over school, you can join the club … literally! Unite with students around the world at www.campuscalm.com and receive your free Student Leader Success & Happiness Kit.  Learn more about Maria on her About the Author page.

School’s about to start. For some of you, it already has. You have books to read, tests to study for and papers to write. You can't afford to miss class. You don't have time to get sick.

The reality is though student leaders get sick. You become stressed out by all your academic and life commitments, skimp on sleep, fill up on junk food and then when your compromised immune system brushes by some germs - well - pass the tissues. Luckily, there are ways to keep your energy levels up and your immune system strong, able to ward off stress and fight infection. If you're looking for ways to keep your mind, body and spirit healthy in 2010 and beyond, practice these 10 simple affirmations:

1. I will allow myself enough sleep each night to fully rest my body, recharge my batteries and support my immune system to protect against illness.

2. I will exercise my body in ways that I enjoy, even if that means squeezing in a 20-minute walk after school.

3. I will pay attention to my emotions and find positive ways to calm my mind & body down when I'm stressed. I will try deep breathing, yoga or I'll call a friend up and do something fun!

4. I will follow my intuition about what's right for my future and not be swayed by the expectations and demands of others.

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Filed under: Maria Pascucci • Campus Calm • College Prep • College Admissions

Ronne Turner is the Associate Vice President of Enrollment & Dean of Admissions and Marketing at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.  She also authors the blog Northeastern Admissions: An Inside Look. 

There are many false ideas about what colleges and universities value in the decision process, from high school quotas to overloading on extracurricular activities. At Northeastern University, our primary goal in admissions is to seek out and build a talented and diverse student body that is best suited to take advantage of a Northeastern education. The key to Northeastern’s strength is experiential learning, or the dynamic integration of classroom study and work outside the classroom. With one hundred years of global leadership in the integration of study and practice, Northeastern offers an unparalled method of education that leads to infinite personal and intellectual growth.

Since experiential learning is at the heart of everything we do, we look for students that are engaged and successful in and outside of the classroom. Our admissions counselors seek students who don’t just see the world, they are shaping it – whether it be through involvement within the community, engaging in social justice activities in high school, or participating in international experiences that engages the diverse cultures and world beyond your doorstep.

You can start by getting involved in a couple of activities that interest you. We want you to enjoy high school and take advantage of the opportunities to explore, learn and experience new academic subjects, activities and friendships. Most college admissions officers are more impressed with students who have pursued coursework and activities based on genuine interest over those students who are simply motivated by what they think will look good on their college applications. Spend your high schools years clarifying your goals and values; working hard to earn the grades that will place you in the best position to achieve your dreams; and developing the interpersonal and leadership skills consistent with your aspirations.  ...continue reading

Filed under: Dean Turner • College Prep • Outside the Classroom • The Extracurricular Experience • College Admissions

As someone who was waitlisted back in the day, I understand that sitting on a college wait list can make you feel like a benchwarmer on a sports team. Well, I’m about to tell you why it’s really not that bad. After all, the benchwarmers still made the team, didn’t they?

First, the grim truth. Recently, articles have been popping up everywhere talking about how college wait lists just keep getting longer and longer. NPR ran a story As College Wait Lists Grow, So Does The Anxiety that mentioned colleges have increased the size of their waiting lists partly due to concerns they won’t have enough students accepting admission. The New York Times also highlighted the trend in an article titled For Students, a Waiting List Is Scant Hope in which writer Jacques Steinberg points out students on the waiting list are not ranked; decisions on who is admitted off the waiting list are actually made based on characteristics the school thinks their incoming freshmen class lacks.

Now, in my humble opinion, here’s why being on the waiting list is not the end of the world. No matter where you go, it’s still college. If you believe in the romantic concept of “Mr. or Mrs. Right” that’s one thing, but I promise you “The One” does not apply to choosing a college. There are colleges that fit your personality and interests and there are colleges that don’t, but no one college is perfect for you so if you’re waitlisted at your top choice, I guarantee you will still enjoy college at your second choice.

Also, keep in mind that being waitlisted, especially at a very competitive school, is a compliment, not an insult. College admissions officers screen candidates as they receive applications and put together three piles. One pile is for the students that are absolutely going to be accepted into the school barring a federal felony. A second pile is for the students that are absolutely not going to be accepted unless they start their own business, make enough money to purchase the school, and then buy it and accept themselves into it. Finally, the third pile is for the students who the admissions officers think are wonderful students with great achievements, and the only uncertainty is the availability of space. Think of it as an honorable mention, and honorable mentions are still in the select group of individuals who are recognized for their achievements.

Are you on a college wait list right now?  Tell me how you feel.

Filed under: Discus Dan • College Prep • College Admissions